New Attraction at Legoland California in 2004?

I got an interesting message from a Legoland "model citizen" yesterday:

"The Spellbreaker ride at Legoland California has closed down due to low ridership and constant mechanical problems. The ride will be dismantled this fall to make way for a new ride to open sometime in 2004. I am an employee at Legoland, so I thought I would give you a heads up message so that you can update the site."

Legoland California is one of my favorite parks, but it could use a blockbuster attraction that appeals as much to adults as kids. As well as a few more rides that toddlers can go on, as well. Spellbreaker's on a fairly large chunk of land between Castle Hill and Miniland. It's a slope, but there's enough room here to do something quite impressive -- if Legoland's willing to invest the cash.

Personally, I'd love to see Legoland attempt a world-class family dark ride. It's the type of attraction that built the theme park industry (think of Pirates, Mansion and Small World from the Disney oeuvre) but companies seem to have ignored it in recent years, in favor of coasters and simulator rides.

Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Anonymous
Posted September 29, 2003 at 11:14 PM

there will be some new attractions at LLC but its doubtful any will be large scale.

its true the Lego company is more optimistic about its theme parks than it was a year ago just after the german opening (slashed budgets galore) but its not about to empty its wallet especially after the Lego company posted some terrible losses in the beginning of the year.

LLC could really use better marketing. tthe new General manager's background and expertise is marketing, which probably explains why hes in that position.

MC

From Anonymous
Posted September 30, 2003 at 9:31 AM

It's true, legoland is going to put a new ride in that space where the troublesome Spellbreaker ride is. But just what is not known for sure yet. I know they are looking at another Mack coaster to go in there but that's just one thing they are looking at.It might not happen until 2005. Also I heard they are looking at some sort of dark ride for 2004 to fill in some empty space.

Well, let me fill in since it’s been awhile. The Spellbreaker ride has been taken down and the queue line area is being redesigned for a new attraction with a Knight’s kingdom theme. The New York Miniland area is being refurbished with the added model of the new Freedom Tower being built in one of our sister parks. We just reopened our Funtown show, “The Big Test” after some cleaning. Unfortunately, the Castle show ”Knight’s Kingdom” has closed. We hope to add a show in the venue during summer season. There’s plans to open two, or possibly three new attractions in 2005, we hope you can come out and see them as they open.

Thank you for your great reviews and comments; most people don’t realize how great the park can be for most children.

Welcome to the site and thanks for the update. I wrote up the new attractions at Legoland during a visit last year. The Knight's Tournament Robocoaster is slated to open on Memorial Day weekend this year, and I'll certainly review that when it opens. I hope to have at least one preview feature on the ride before that, too. (The folks at Legoland, unlike certain other parks that shall remain unnamed, are quite accomodating to online journalists.)

Legoland's the best park in the world for kids, according to the TPI readers who have given it that award for the past two years. I'm looking forward to seeing what the park has to offer in 2005.

I have one problem with the robocoaster. I know that it's great and all that Legoland is a great theme park for children and their families, but I wish the robocoaster would makes it first public appearance at a thrill park. Because of the fact that this is legoland, the ride will most likely be toned down in order to continue their reputation as a under 12 park. We can only hope that Legoland is trying to reach out to teenagers by building a ride that will appeal to that age group.

I don't know, Jason. The application of the RoboCoaster as a straight-up thrill ride is obvious. But if a park were to demonstrate its use in a themed environment, where "normal" guests could ride without too much fear, I think that would go a lot father in demonstrating this technology's value than just installing it as the latest incarnation of a carnival spin-n-barf.

Wait, wait, wait... I thought the whole point of the RoboCoaster was that guests programmed the ride to be as intense as they wanted? If this were the case, it would be the perfect strategy for a Legoland park.

It depends how the themed environment is. If it's a cheesy and boring one, the ride is a failure. If it's a great environment then I accept the ride as it is. And if they do let you program your own ride, all the better.